Analyses of NOx and wet depositions at Mühleggerkböpfl, North Tyrolean Limestone Alps

The intensive investigation site 'Mühleggerkopfl' in the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps can be classified as a clean-air area site. The mean concentrations of NOx are far below the effect-related limit value of the WHO (30 microg NOx m(-3)). The gravitational depositions in the open field (bulk deposition) ranged from 10.8 to 14.7 kg N ha(-1) a(-1) (throughfall: 11.3 to 12.3 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)) in the measuring years 1998 to 2000. Compared to these data, depositions in other forested areas of the Austrian Alps amounted to up to 30 kg N ha(-1) a(-1). The gravitational depositions (bulk deposition) alone--without considering dry and occult deposition slightly exceeded the lower limit of Critical Loads for coniferous and deciduous forests (>10 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)), but were below the Critical Loads for calcareous forests (15-20 kg N ha(-1) a(-1)).